As the school year nears an end, most students (and many parents) look forward to summer activities --- and, most of all, no homework and no assignment deadlines!

The last days of school often celebrate the many accomplishments throughout the year with class parties and awards ceremonies. It is the awards ceremony that I want to focus on here.

Do you remember receiving awards, and what that felt like? Did you never once receive a school award? What did that feel like?

I was an A student from the time I started kindergarten, and received award after award. During my eighth grade year at St. Francis of Assisi School in Los Angeles, one of my classmates said to me, "Please, please, let me win the 'read most books' award. You always get lots of awards; please let me get this one." So I made sure that I read fewer books than she did, and she got that award.

What is it like for students to watch others get awards and never receive one themselves? What is it like for their parents?

I attended an awards ceremony a few years ago at a school known for valuing individual children's learning styles. I looked forward to the event, assuming every child would receive acknowledgment for his/her special skills and talents.

The first grade teacher began the program by explaining that in every classroom there are a few children who stand out --- those destined to be presidents and CEOs, leaders who will accomplish great things and make a difference in the world. He then proceeded to honor four students in his first grade class who apparently fit that description.

It still brings tears when I think how the rest of the children and their parents must have felt. I guess this teacher thought it was possible, and perfectly acceptable, for him to decide the future success and leadership abilities of these 6- and 7-year-olds. But early in a child's school career is when the seeds of success versus failure first are planted. Some students are labeled smart, capable, competent, motivated, "will go far" --- and others are labeled slow, lazy, unmotivated, disruptive, learning disabled or "just average."

This is not what God had in mind. As the Creator of many different personalities and learning styles, I am pretty sure that God wants us to honor and encourage the uniqueness of each child. I'm pretty sure that teachers and parents have an obligation to learn everything they can about how each child learns, and to do all they can to meet their learning needs.

Performing students need to move in order to learn. Inventing students need to explore and discover. Relating students need to discuss and work in small groups. Hands-on learners cannot get it from a book or sitting in a desk all day, and Picture learners will not do well with verbal instructions alone. Yes, I know there are many students in a classroom, and yes, all of these students can have their learning needs met.

What if every child received acknowledgment for his/her unique gifts? No one would be left out! The Performing student would get an award for bringing fun to the classroom; the Relating student, for bringing compassion; the Inventing student, for discovering new ways of doing things; the Sketching learner, for providing great illustrations for a project. What about the student who has great ideas, the one who is first to lend a hand, the one who has a beautiful singing voice?

When parents and teachers acknowledge the special gifts God has given to a child, they allow the Spirit of God to speak through them to say to that child, "You are special, you are gifted, you are loved. Take your gift into the world and love others with it." This is the message that allows children to develop into successful, productive and compassionate adults.

Every June I am hopeful that more teachers will honor every child in their classroom for his/her unique gifts. If you are a parent and your child is not acknowledged, I recommend you have your own awards ceremony at home. Let your children know how much you value and celebrate them. It's a great way to start off the summer!

©2009 by Mariaemma Pelullo-Willis Mariaemma Pelullo-Willis is a California credentialed teacher and holds a Master's Degree in Special Education. She is co-author, with Victoria Kindle Hodson, of "Discover Your Child's Learning Style" (Random House) and "Midlife Crisis Begins in Kindergarten." For many years a Master Catechist for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, she attends Mission San Buenaventura.